Heavy clashes are ongoing near the dam as the extremist group puts up a fight to hold on to the strategic area. While hundreds of jihadist militants have been killed in Tabqa, the SDF Command has said it is progressing carefully to avoid damage to the dam, the largest in the area.

Boosted on Tuesday by the US approval of heavy weapons’ provisions for its leading faction, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the SDF is expected to launch an operation on IS stronghold Raqqa following capture of the dam.